Global Forests

ForestEthics is a leader in the newest evolutionary wave of the environmental movement.

History:ForestEthics was founded in 1994 as the Clayoquot Rainforest Coalition (CRC). CRC focused on saving Clayoquot Sound, the largest remaining area of intact temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island on Canada's west coast. In 1996, CRC achieved a victory that preserved much of Clayoquot Sound from logging. CRC then expanded its mission to seek protection of the entire coastal rainforest of British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, and became the Coastal Rainforest Coalition. After five years of intense campaigning, CRC was once again a key player in another victory for British Columbia's coastal rainforest, which led to one of the largest conservation agreements protecting temperate rainforests. The coalition was then restructured to create a new organization named ForestEthics. Its mission was broadened to protect all endangered forests by redirecting markets toward ecologically sound alternatives.

ForestEthics has helped pioneer a new approach to environmental activism by focusing its efforts on the marketplace. For every tree cut in an endangered forest there is a purchaser somewhere that funds this activity - often unwittingly. ForestEthics works to educate individual consumers, large corporate purchasers and distributors so they are aware of the environmental impacts and ethical dimensions of their purchasing decisions. Their goal is to harness this market power to stop destructive activities of certain logging companies while encouraging a shift toward environmentally preferable products.

Protection of the world's endangered forests

Comprehensive reform of forestry practices

Restoration of environmentally sensitive forests

Increased decision-making power for indigenous communities over their traditional territories

We ask large corporate buyers and sellers of wood, paper and pulp products to do the following: End their purchases from endangered forests Reduce overall fiber consumption Shift to ecologically sustainable alternatives including post- consumer recycled fibers, agricultural fibers, and reclaimed wood Transition toward products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified

Actions: October 17th a rally was held in Portland at one of the Office Depot stores. After finding out that Office Depot uses products made from old growth wood, 2 customers withdrew their accounts with this corporation.

At the rally held at the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco October 3, 2003, a letter was delivered to the Prime Minister with the following requests to protect the Ancient Forests in Canada:

"...In Canada's vast and unique boreal forests we ask you to:

Support the establishment of a moratorium on further industrial development of intact areas until scientific mapping, identification and protection of endangered forests takes place;

Ensure that no new allocations are made prior the development of conservation area designs, and the identification and protection of endangered forests;

Ensure ecosystem-based management and logging that is third-party certified outside of protected areas;

Support and provide incentives for increased use of fiber sourced from recycling, agricultural residue and other fibers, where appropriate.

In British Columbia we ask you to:

Become an active partner in ensuring that the Great Bear Rainforest is fully protected, as determined by the independent science team's ecological analysis;

Ensure that critical species and their habitat are protected by urging the Government of British Columbia to protect the spotted owl and the mountain caribou."

Canada has both a unique opportunity and a global responsibility to ensure endangered forests are adequately protected. We appreciate you taking steps to support this protection. "

Current Campaigns:

Oct 14th-22nd: Canada's Endangered Forests Roadshow Canada's endangered forests aren't disappearing -They're available for sale at a store near you

HELP US SAVE CANADA'S ENDANGERED FORESTS, CORPORATION BY CORPORATION Come and learn how the global timber industry, and the market for wood and paper products, is destroying endangered forests across Canada - and how you can help stop the destruction using market-based activism!

LIST OF SHOWS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST:

Tuesday, October 14th-- Eugene-- Forest Ethics Multimedia Presentation on Canada's Disappearing Forests: "Canada's endangered forests aren't disappearing - They're available for sale at a store near you. HELP US SAVE CANADA'S ENDANGERED FORESTS, CORPORATION BY CORPORATION. Come and learn how the global timber industry, and the market for wood and paper products, is destroying endangered forests across Canada - and how you can help stop the destruction using market-based activism! 7 -9:30 pm University of Oregon, EMU, Fir Room

Thursday October 16th--Portland-- Cascadia Forest Revue Come and learn from Forest Ethics how the global timber industry, and the market for wood and paper products, is destroying endangered forests across Canada - and how you can help stop the destruction! ForestEthics' multi-media presentation will be followed by discussion, and then we'll plan for an action the following day at Office Depot, 323 SE MLK. Special guest Timothy Hull will provide inspiring music that has been described as Raggle Taggle Street Songs, Exiled Busker Ballads & Soul. Come to get involved in CFA and other forest defense projects in the region! 7pm It's a Beautiful Pizza, 3342 SE Belmont St. in Portland. $3-10

Come and learn how the global timber industry, and the market for wood and paper products, is destroying endangered forests across Canada - and how you can help stop the destruction using market-based activism!

ForestEthics has created a multi-media presentation highlighting Canada's breathtaking and biologically rich endangered forests. You'll see spectacular images of British Columbia's world-famous Great Bear Rainforest; of the world's only - and severely threatened -- inland rainforests; and of Canada's vast boreal forests - North America's largest remaining wilderness.

What do they have in common? US consumption, and corporate control, is driving their destruction. These forests are critical to the survival of grizzly bears, wild salmon, mountain caribou, wolves, migratory songbirds, and hundreds of other species, as well as indigenous communities. We'll give you the word on both the forests and on the corporations that are destroying them - so you can HELP US STOP THEM!

The presentation will be followed by discussion, and then we'll plan for an action the following day. Special guest Timothy Hall from Whidbey Island, Washington will provide inspiring music. With a strong Irish sound to many of his songs, and a definite eco-political edge, Timothy has drawn comparisons to Richard Thompson and the Waterboys. We'll also have additional special guests. See you there!